John Frusciante

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Born in 1970 and raised in California, Frusciante dropped out of high school when guitar playing and rock music took hold of the up-and-coming musician/songwriter. Embracing both the unpredictable side of rock (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, King Crimson, Funkadelic) and punk (the Germs, Black Flag), Frusciante created his own guitar style -- combining both technical skill with a knack for penning funky, psychedelic riffs.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers became an automatic fav when the young guitarist discovered them early in their career, and his dream to join the band came true in 1988, after striking up a friendship with the Chili Peppers' bassist Flea. Interestingly, Frusciante had just been hired by another L.A. band, Thelonious Monster, prior to joining the Peppers.

Frusciante's first recording with the Peppers, 1989's Mother's Milk, helped break the popular college rock band through to the mainstream -- resulting in their first gold record, with John's amazing guitar playing serving as a catalyst for many of the songs.